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Antetokounmpo, Bucks trample Pacers 102-83

Posted at 9:38 PM, Nov 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-16 22:38:55-05

INDIANAPOLIS — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists Saturday night, and the Milwaukee Bucks forced the Indiana Pacers into their worst shooting performance of the season in a 102-83 rout.

Brook Lopez added 15 points and eight boards. His five blocked shots helped hold the Pacers, missing their top two point guards, to a season-low 32% from the field.

Milwaukee, 9-3 despite a road-heavy schedule to start the season, shot 45%. Donte DiVincenzo contributed 14 points, and Eric Bledsoe finished with 10 points and five assists.

Myles Turner, playing his first game since Oct. 30, had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Indiana. Aaron Holiday wound up with 11 points and five assists. He started in place of former Buck Malcolm Brogdon, who developed a sore lower back in Friday night’s 111-102 loss at Houston.

Milwaukee went ahead by 15 points in the second quarter. Indiana cut its 49-36 halftime deficit to 71-63 entering the fourth quarter.

The Bucks restored their lead by opening the final period on a 10-2 run, including a pair of spot-up 3-pointers from Sterling Brown in the left corner. Brown finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Antetokounmpo drained a 3 from the top of the key at the first-quarter buzzer for a 26-22 edge. The reigning MVP’s run of consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games ended at six. It was the NBA’s longest such streak since Shaquille O’Neal’s 11 in 2001.

Backup point guard T.J. McConnell (sore right groin) was a late scratch, joining Brogdon, All-Star Victor Oladipo and sixth man Jeremy Lamb on Indiana’s crowded inactive list.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Antetokounmpo drew oohs and ahs on a highlight-reel dunk early in the second quarter. He started out dribbling beyond the 3-point line, drove left around JaKarr Sampson, picked up the ball above the foul line and soared for a left-handed jam over the outstretched arms of the trailing Sampson and help defender Goga Bitadze. ... Starting small forward Khris Middleton (left thigh contusion) missed his second straight game.

Pacers: The Pacers were outscored 34-6 in the paint in the first half and 56-26 for the game. ... The team’s video board showed Travis Best in attendance. Best averaged 8.9 points as the backup point guard on the Pacers’ 2000 Eastern Conference championship team.

UP NEXT:

Bucks: Play at Chicago on Monday night as Milwaukee looks to extend a seven-game win streak against the Bulls.

Pacers: Play at Brooklyn on Monday night. They won there 118-108 on Oct. 30.